Golden Age of Islamic Poetry

Created and led by poet Patrick Cox, the Golden Age of Islamic Poetry is a workshop that introduces participants to poetry classics of the Muslim world and invites them to try their hand at enduring forms from the Middle East. The workshop begins with a short walking tour of the beautiful and unique architecture of Opa-locka.

The workshop provides a scenic walking tour, historic facts behind the founding of Opa-locka, and a brief overview of A Thousand and One Nights and the poetry of the Islamic Golden Age. Poems from a number of the tradition’s poets, such as Rumi, Omar Khayyam, and Hafez, are read while classical representations from the visual arts are displayed. Attendees are given a sampling of Hispano-Arabic poetry and afforded the opportunity to take notes of their favorite themes, poets, and/or poems among those presented.

For the workshop’s first exercise, participants take part in a walking tour of Opa-locka’s historic Islamic Architecture. Participants are provided with hand-outs of selected Middle Eastern poems and asked to write a poem in response to a featured building of their choice. The event wraps up with an open discussion.

Please bring sensible walking shoes and weather-appropriate attire.